Polpette di ricotta is a great alternative to meatballs. This vegetarian-friendly recipe is easy to make and it is delicious. The trick to making these decadent ricotta balls is to use well-drained ricotta cheese and fresh basil and to not over-mix the ingredients. Not all ricotta brands need to be drained. However, if you purchase one that is watery it’s best to take the extra step and drain it. This will help during the rolling of the ricotta mixture into balls. Also, less moisture will make the polpette less fragile and easier to cook and serve.
These polpette di ricotta are a nice option for a dinner party. Yes, vegetarians will enjoy them. However, I’ve had many meat eaters tell me that they were surprised as to how much they liked eating them too. This is a simple recipe with only a few ingredients that pack a tasty punch. So make them for your friends and family and let them decide. I guess that they will quickly disappear soon after their first bite.
One great thing about this recipe is that you can easily swap out ingredients. Try using fresh oregano instead of basil, or even use Parmesan cheese instead of the pecorino. I even like to add a strip or two of finely minced lemon zest to add another element of Southern Italian flavor. You’ll find your favorite variations eventually but until then stick to this original recipe and get to cooking!